List of museums in North Dakota

This list of museums in North Dakota, United States, is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Museums[edit]

Name Town/City County Region Type Summary
Bagg Bonanza Farm Mooreton Richland Southeast Farm Historic bonanza farm buildings and machinery
Barnes County History Museum Valley City Barnes Southeast Local history Operated by the Barnes County Historical Society[1][2]
Billings County Museum Medora Billings Southwest Local history Located in the former county courthouse, operated by the Billings County Historical Society[3]
Bismarck State College Galleries Bismarck Burleigh Southwest Art Elsa Forde Gallery in Schafer Hall, and Gannon Gallery in the library[4]
Bonanzaville U.S.A. West Fargo Cass Southeast Open air Includes over 40 buildings on 12 acres (49,000 m2), historic aircraft, automobiles, horse-drawn vehicles, farm equipment, museums on law enforcement, medicine, telephones, firefighting, and period stores and houses
Bottineau County Historical Museum Bottineau Bottineau North Central Local history [5]
Bowdon Centennial Museum Bowdon Wells North Central Local history [6]
Buckstop Junction Bismarck Burleigh Southwest Open air website, historic village on 20 acres, operated by the Missouri Valley Historical Society
Buffalo Trails Museum Epping Williams Northwest Multiple website, includes a homesteader's log cabin, dentist's office, photograph gallery, library, and the original Stevens country school
Camp Hancock State Historic Site Bismarck Burleigh Southwest Military History of the mid 19th century infantry post, also local history
Cavalier County Museum Langdon Cavalier Northeast Local history Operated by the Cavalier County Historical Society
Chateau de Mores State Historic Site Medora Billings Southwest Historic house Late 19th century period house
Children's Museum at Yunker Farm Fargo Cass Southeast Children's website
Coleman Museum Ellendale Dickey South Central Local history Operated by the Ellendale Historical Society[7]
Dakota Buttes Museum Hettinger Adams Southwest Local history [8]
Badlands Dinosaur Museum
(Dakota Dinosaur Museum)
Dickinson Stark Southwest Natural history Fossils and dinosaur replicas, rocks, minerals and meteorites
Dakota Territory Air Museum Minot Ward Northwest Aviation Civilian and military aircraft, photos and memorabilia
Dickey County Heritage Center Oakes Dickey Southeast Local history Operated by the Dickey County Historical Society[9]
Dickinson Museum Center Dickinson Stark Southwest Multiple Includes Badlands Dinosaur Museum, Joachim Regional Museum with local history and art exhibits, Pioneer Machinery Museum, and the open air Prairie Outpost Park with historic village buildings
Dickinson State University Art Gallery Dickinson Stark Southwest Art Located on the lower level of Klinefelter Hall[10]
Divide County Museum Crosby Divide Northwest Open air Pioneer village including two churches, a schoolhouse, print shop, general store, sawmill, blacksmith shop, baker and a bank
Douglas Centennial Museum Douglas Ward Northwest Local history Open by appointment[11]
Dunn County Historical Museum Dunn Center Dunn Southwest Local history website, themes include American Indian, Western, farm machinery, religious, military, children's artifacts, household items, clothing, photographs and furniture
Eddy County Museum New Rockford Eddy North Central Local history Includes school, church and depot with historic furnishings and exhibits, operated by the Eddy County Historical Society[12]
Elgin Museum Elgin Grant Southwest Railroad Open by appointment, located in a historic depot[13]
Emmons County Museum Linton Emmons Southwest Local history Operated by the Emmons County Historical Society, includes schoolroom display, saddles, tack, children's furniture, toys, clothing, household items, military items[14][15]
Empire Arts Center Grand Forks Grand Forks Northeast Art
Enderlin Museum Enderlin Ransom Southeast Local history website
Fargo Air Museum Fargo Cass Southeast Aviation
Flickertail Village Museum Stanley Mountrail Northwest Open air [16]
Former Governors' Mansion Bismarck Burleigh Southwest Historic house 1893 period mansion, home to 20 governors
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site Abercrombie Richland Southeast Military Restored fort and museum
Fort Abraham Lincoln Mandan Morton Southwest Multiple Includes visitor center exhibits about the fort and Mandan tribe, On-A-Slant Indian Village, 1870s period Custer House
Fort Buford State Historic Site Williston Williams Northwest Military Restored fort and museum
Fort Mandan Washburn McLean Northwest Military Reconstructed stockade fort
Fort Ransom State Park Fort Ransom Ransom Southeast Multiple Includes visitor center displays about 19th-century sodbusters and of the Mound Builders, and two homesteader farms
Fort Seward Jamestown Stutsman South Central Local history website, includes artifacts from archaeological digs at the site of the fort[17]
Fort Stevenson State Park Garrison McLean Northwest Military Includes Fort Stevenson Guardhouse Interpretive Center, a replica of the original military guardhouse with artifacts, memorabilia, and history of Fort Stevenson and the Missouri River[18]
Fort Totten State Historic Site Fort Totten Benson Northeast Military Restored fort and Lake Region Pioneer Daughters Museum
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Williston Williams Northwest History Fur trading post with seasonal living history presentations
Foster County Museum Carrington Foster South Central Local history [19][20]
Frontier Fort and Wildlife Museum Jamestown Stutsman South Central Multiple RV campsite with museum, includes wildlife mounts, American Indian exhibits, agricultural artifacts, local and regional history[21][22]
Frontier Museum Williston Williams Northwest Open air Open by appointment, includes a rural church, house, depot, country school, depot taxi, displays from the 20s through the 50s[23]
Frontier Village Jamestown Stutsman South Central Open air Re-created prairie town of 24 buildings, includes art gallery and Louis L'Amour Writer's Shack[24]
Gateway to Science Bismarck Burleigh South Central Science website, hands-on science center
Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site Walhalla Pembina Northeast Historic house Mid-19th century fur trading post and house
Goose River Heritage Center Museum Mayville Traill Northeast Local history Period displays, open seasonally[25]
Grand Forks Historical Society Grand Forks Grand Forks Northeast Open air website, complex includes Myra Museum of local history, 1900 period Thomas D. Campbell House, a Lustron house, a post office/general store, and a schoolhouse
Grassy Butte Post Office Grassy Butte McKenzie Northwest Local history Ukrainian-type log building formerly used as a post office, open in summer
Griggs County Museum Cooperstown Griggs Northeast Local history website
Hampden History Museum Hampden Ramsey North Central Local history [26]
Hatton-Eielson Museum Hatton Traill Northeast Historic house Boyhood home of polar aviator Carl Ben Eielson, also displays of city and area history
Hawk Museum Wolford Pierce North Central Agriculture website, antique tractors, farm equipment and implements[27]
Heritage Park Museum Garrison McLean Northwest Open air Includes a train depot, country school, country church, telephone office, two fully furnished homestead houses, and a log cabin[18]
Hettinger County Historical Society Museum Regent Hettinger Southwest Local history [28][29]
James Memorial Art Center Williston Williams Northwest Art Community art center
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Stanton Mercer Northwest Native American Includes museum, sites of Northern Plains Indians villages, reconstructed earth lodge
Lake County Historical Society Pioneer Village and Museum Kenmare Ward Northwest Open air 22 buildings on 5 acres, operated by the Lake County Historical Society[30][31]
Lake Region Heritage Center Devils Lake Ramsey North Central Local history Displays include a pioneer doctor's room, the original federal courtroom, an early law office, a barber shop, a dentist office and Native American beadwork, also art exhibits
LaMoure County Museum LaMoure LaMoure South Central Local history [32][33]
Larimore Community Museum Larimore Grand Forks Northeast Local history [34]
Lewis and Clark Trail Museum Alexander McKenzie Northwest Local history Exhibits include Lewis and Clark Expedition diorama, antiques and period displays, cars, machinery, homestead artifacts[35]
Lidgerwood Community Museum Lidgerwood Richland Southeast Local history [36]
Litchville Community Museum Litchville Barnes Northwest Local history [37]
Logan County Historical Society Napoleon Logan Northwest Open air [38]
Ludwig and Christina Welk Homestead Strasburg Emmons Southwest Historic house Turn-of-the-20th-century farmhouse and birthplace of orchestra leader Lawrence Welk
Makoti Threshers Museum Makoti Ward Northwest Open air Open by appointment, pioneer village, and transportation and farm equipment, including steam engines, kerosene and gasoline tractors, crawlers, road building equipment, wagons, sawmill, farm equipment, stationary engines, cars, trucks, and firefighting equipment[39]
Manfred Heritage Museum Manfred Wells North Central Open air [40][41]
Manvel Museum Manvel Grand Forks Northeast Local history [42]
Maury Wills Museum Fargo Cass Southeast Biographical Life of baseball player Maury Wills, located at Newman Outdoor Field
McLeod Museum Complex McLeod Ransom Southeast Open air website, includes local history museum in a church, one room schoolhouse, depot, homestead house, fire hall, farm machinery, operated by the McLeod Preservation Historical Society
McHenry Railroad Loop McHenry Foster North Central Railroad End-of-the-line turn-around railroad loop, train rides and museum
McKenzie County Heritage Park Watford City McKenzie Northwest Open air [43]
McLean County Historical Society Museums Washburn McLean Northwest Multiple website, complex includes main museum with local history, natural history and culture exhibits, Former McLean County Courthouse with period room and business displays, a schoolhouse, cabin and Sioux ferry boat
Melzer Museum Woodworth Stutsman Northwest Medical Historic doctor's office, includes American Indian photography[44]
Memorial Union Gallery at North Dakota State University Fargo Cass Southeast Art Changing special exhibits and displays from its collection of 20th and 21st-century art, including works by Andy Warhol, Judy Chicago, Pablo Picasso, Fritz Scholder, James Rosenquist, and Jaune Quick-To-See Smith[45]
Mercer County Historical Museum Beulah Mercer Northwest Local history [46]
Midland Continental Depot Transportation Museum Wimbledon Barnes South Central Railroad Historic depot, exhibits about the Midland Continental Railroad and local singer Peggy Lee
Minnewaukan Museum Minnewaukan Benson Northwest Local history [47]
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center Williston Williams Northwest Local history Exhibits on the geography, geology, and history of the area
National Buffalo Museum Jamestown Stutsman South Central History website, cultural and historical significance of the North American bison in Plains culture, includes live buffalo, located at the Frontier Village
Norseman Museum Tioga Williams Northwest Local history [48]
North American Game Warden Museum Dunseith Rolette North Central Law enforcement Located in the International Peace Garden, work of game wardens and conservation officers
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Medora Billings Southwest American West website, history and culture of the American West, including cowboys, Native Americans, ranching and rodeo
North Dakota Firefighters Museum Garrison McLean Northwest Firefighting website
North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame Garrison McLean Northwest Sports Housed at North Country Marine & Motorsports, includes photos, fishing gear and equipment[49]
North Dakota Heritage Center Bismarck Burleigh Southwest History Official state history museum
North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center Washburn McLean Northwest History Lewis and Clark Expedition in the state, area fur trade and agriculture
North Dakota Maritime Museum Devils Lake Ramsey North Central Military U.S. Navy uniforms, posters, medals, photos, hats, memorabilia, most from World War II[50][51]
North Dakota Museum of Art Grand Forks Grand Forks Northeast Art Collections include contemporary Native American and international art
North Dakota State Capitol Bismarck Burleigh Southwest History Guided tours only
North Dakota State Railroad Museum Mandan Morton Southwest Railroad website
Northern Lights Art Gallery Mayville Traill Northeast Art Non-profit regional art gallery[52]
Northwest Art Center Minot Ward Northwest Art website, part of Minot State University, two galleries host exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists
Northwood Pioneer Museum Northwood Grand Forks Northeast Local history [53]
Old Soo Depot Transportation Museum Minot Ward Northwest Transportation History of transportation in the American West including railroads, automobiles, buses and aviation
Ox Cart Trails Historical Society Museum Drayton Pembina Northeast Local history website
Paul Broste Rock Museum Parshall Mountrail Northwest Geology website, rocks and minerals
Pembina County Historical Museum Cavalier Pembina Northeast Agriculture [54][55]
Pembina State Museum Pembina Pembina Northeast Local history Area cultural and natural history
Pfennig Wildlife Museum Beulah Mercer Northwest Natural history Animal mounts from around the world[46]
Pioneer Heritage Center at Icelandic State Park Cavalier Pembina Northeast Open air
Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County Watford City McKenzie Northwest Local history Located in the Long X Trading Post Visitor Center[56]
Pioneer Trails Museum Hanks Williams Northwest Local history [57][58]
Pioneer Trails Regional Museum Bowman Bowman southwest Local history website
Plains Art Museum Fargo Cass Southeast Art Collections include contemporary, Native American and folk art
Plaza Community Museum Plaza Mountrail Northwest Local history [59]
Prairie Village Museum Rugby Pierce North Central Open air website, includes pioneer village, classic cars, antique tools, farm equipment and implements, antique guns, household items, Native American and Eskimo artifacts, wildlife displays, Scandinavian heritage exhibit
Railroad Museum of Minot Minot Ward Northwest Railroad Railroad cars, equipment, uniforms, memorabilia[60][61]
Ransom County Historical Museum Fort Ransom Ransom Southeast Open air website, includes flour mill, historic house, one room schoolhouse, pioneer dam, local history and period room displays
Ray Opera House Museum Ray Williams Northwest Local history Exhibits include musical instruments, pioneer artifacts and African artifacts[62]
Renville County Museum Mohall Renville Northwest Local history [63]
Richland County Historical Museum Wahpeton Richland Southeast Local history [64]
Roger Maris Museum Fargo Cass Southeast Biographical Baseball player Roger Maris
Rolette County Historical Society Museum St. John Rolette North Central Open air [65]
Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site Cooperstown Griggs South Central Military Two former missile sites, includes the Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility
Rosebud School Museum Fullerton Dickey South Central School 1901 country school[66]
Ryder Historical Museums Ryder Ward Northwest Local history [67]
Sargent County Museum Forman Sargent Southeast Local history website
Scandinavian Heritage Park Minot Ward Northwest Open air Replica buildings and exhibits about Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland
Schulstad Stone House Museum Forbes Dickey South Central Historic house 1907 period house, open by appointment[68]
Shimmin Tveit Museum Forbes Dickey South Central Local history [69]
Steele County Museum Hope Steele Southeast Local history Operated by the Steele County Historical Society
Stump Lake Village Pioneer Museum Pekin Nelson North Central Open air website, pioneer village, operated by the Nelson County Historical Society
Stutsman County Memorial Museum Jamestown Stutsman South Central Local history website, Arts and Crafts-style Lutz Mansion with period rooms and displays of local history
Taube Museum of Art Minot Ward Northwest Art Formerly known as the Minot Art Gallery, area visual art
Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin Medora Billings Southwest Historic house Located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, cabin used by Theodore Roosevelt before he became president
Three Affiliated Tribes Museum New Town Mountrail Northwest Native American History and culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara people[70]
Tofthagen Library and Museum Lakota Nelson North Central Local history
Toy Farmer Museum LaMoure LaMoure South Central Toy website, toy farm equipment
Traill County Museum Complex Hillsboro Traill Northeast Open air Includes 1897 period Plummer House, log cabin, two buildings with military, school, pioneer and agriculture collections
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Indian Heritage Center Belcourt Rolette North Central Native American website, located on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation
V & R Toy Museum Kenmare Ward Northwest Toy Includes farm toys, construction toys, trucks, hand-made toys, buckles, caps, train set and farm scene display, open by appointment[71]
Victorian Dress Museum Rugby Pierce North Central Textile Reproduction - prize winning - Victorian style dresses and accessories, located in former church[27]
Walsh County Historical Museum Minto Walsh Northeast Open air Includes a trading post, country school, log cabin, complete main street with shops, wildlife displays[72]
Ward County Historical Society Pioneer Village Burlington, North Dakota Ward Northwest Open air website, located at 8181 Hwy 2/52 W, Burlington, ND 58722
Wells County Museum Fessenden Wells Northwest Local history Open during the Wells County Fair and by appointment[73]
Wimbledon Community Museum Wimbledon Barnes South Central History Antiques and period displays[74]

Defunct museums[edit]

  • Cass County Pioneer Village, Ayr[75]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Barnes County Historical Society". ND Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Facebook site". Barnes County Historical Society Museum. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Official site". Billings County Museum. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Bismarck State College Galleries". North Dakota Art Gallery Association. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Bottineau County Historical Museum". Discover Our Town. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Bowdon Centennial Museum". ND Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Coleman Museum". Ellendale, North Dakota. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Dakota Buttes Museum". Hettinger Area Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Dickey County Heritage Center". Oakes, North Dakota. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Dickinson State University Art Gallery". Dickinson State University. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Douglas Centennial Museum". ND Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Eddy County Museum". City of New Rockford. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Elgin Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Emmons County Museum brochure" (PDF). Linton, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Emmons County Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  16. ^ "Flickertail Village & Museum". Stanley, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Fort Seward". Visit Jamestown, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Attractions". Garrison, North Dakota. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Foster County Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  20. ^ "Foster County Museum Photos". CarringtonNews .Com. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  21. ^ "The Frontier Ft. Campground and Museum". Reuben Liechty REALTORS. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  22. ^ "Frontier Fort & Wildlife Museum". Visit Jamestown ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Frontier Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  24. ^ "Frontier Village". Visit Jamestown, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  25. ^ "Goose River Heritage Center Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  26. ^ "Hampden History Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Attractions". Rugby Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  28. ^ "Hettinger County Historical Society Museum Photos". James Q. Jacobs. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  29. ^ "Hettinger County Historical Society Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  30. ^ "Facebook site". Lake County Historical Society. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  31. ^ "Attractions". Kenmare, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  32. ^ "LaMoure Tourism - Things to See and Do". LaMoure, ND. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  33. ^ "LaMoure County Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  34. ^ "Larimore Community Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  35. ^ "Lewis and Clark Trail Museum". McKenzie County Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  36. ^ "Lidgerwood Community Museum". City of Lidgerwood. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  37. ^ "Litchville Community Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  38. ^ "Logan County Historical Society". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  39. ^ "Makoti Threshers Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  40. ^ "Manfred the museum". Minot Daily News. June 12, 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  41. ^ "Official site". Manfred History and Preservation. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  42. ^ "Manvel Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  43. ^ "McKenzie County Heritage Park". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  44. ^ "Melzer Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  45. ^ "Memorial Union Gallery". North Dakota State University. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  46. ^ a b "Museums". Beulah, ND. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  47. ^ "Minnewaukan Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  48. ^ "Norseman Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  49. ^ "Official site". North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  50. ^ "Heritage Museums". Devils Lake Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  51. ^ "Official site". North Dakota Maritime Museum Association. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  52. ^ "Official site". Northern Lights Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  53. ^ "Northwood Pioneer Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  54. ^ "Pembina County Historical Museum & Pioneer Machinery Grounds". Cavalier, ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  55. ^ "Pembina County Museum and Pioneer Machinery Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  56. ^ "Pioneer Museum of McKenzie County". McKenzie County Tourism. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  57. ^ "Pioneer Trails Museum". Museums USA. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  58. ^ "Pioneer Trails Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  59. ^ "Plaza Community Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  60. ^ "Railroad Museum of Minot". Visit Minot. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  61. ^ "Facebook site". RailRoad Museum of Minot. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  62. ^ "Ray Opera House Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  63. ^ "Renville County Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  64. ^ "Richland County Historical Museum". Wahpeton, North Dakota. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  65. ^ "Rolette County Historical Society Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  66. ^ "Rosebud School Museum". Fullerton, ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  67. ^ "Ryder Historical Museums". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  68. ^ "Schulstad Stone House Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  69. ^ "Shimmin Tveit Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  70. ^ "Three Tribes Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  71. ^ "V & R Toy Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  72. ^ "Walsh County Historical Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  73. ^ "Wells County Historical Society". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  74. ^ "Wimbledon Community Museum". Visit ND. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  75. ^ "Cass County Pioneer Village". Roadside America. Retrieved 14 December 2014.